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Green Grilling: Eco-Friendly Ways to Barbecue

Summer has arrived and the heat is on! Cooking burgers, kebobs, and other barbecue delights have been on my mind all week. It's time to get cooking!

But before you bring out the barbecue, consider incorporating some of these eco-friendly tips into your grilling routine.

1. Say no to disposable products.

Reuse, reuse, reuse! Say no to disposable barbecues, cups and plates. Use what you have at home. Or you can purchase reusable, BPA free, dishwasher safe plastic plates, silverware, and cups, from Preserve Products.

Also, don't forget to consider infrared grills. They are growing in popularity and have some advantages over a traditional grill. For instance, they heat quickly and use less energy and gas than your typical gas grill.

3. Purchase sustainable charcoal.

Charcoal and briquettes are the least expensive option for fueling the barbecue fire, but they are not environmentally friendly. Jeremy Taylor, from About My Plant, pointed out, "Every time you fire up the charcoal, you're sending soot and carbon monoxide into the air."

The solution is simple. Purchase charcoal from sustainable sources or look for charcoal that's free of chemical additives. And my favorite option is using coconut shell charcoal. It is chemical free and burns without harmful emissions.

4. Ditch the starter fluid.

Lighting up the barbecue isn't an easy task and most lighter fluids emit nasty chemicals. However, you can use an electric charcoal starter or try out a charcoal chimney starter.

Another fun option is the One Light™ Charcoal bag. It "is the only single-use charcoal bag with an internal chimney that uses air rather than harmful accelerants to ignite and roast the charcoal. No lighter fluid added or needed."